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Scientists Develop Edible Battery

Batteries often contain a number of heavy metals and toxic chemicals that can be hazardous to health and the environment.

Each year, a number of children around the world get seriously injured or even die after swallowing small batteries. Improper disposal of toxic batteries can lead to soil contamination and water pollution as well.

Not that you’d necessarily want to consume an edible battery, but at least now scientists have developed working batteries that will be harmless inside a human body.

Battery is Safe Enough to Eat

Aquion Energy, a Pittsburgh-based company, claims that its Aqueous Hybrid Ion (AHI) battery is an environmentally benign and economical alternative to existing harmful batteries. It uses salt water as an electrolyte in comparison to costly and hazardous chemicals used by existing energy storage technologies.

The saltwater battery is made using components that are completely safe for the environment and doesn’t have any corrosive acids that give off toxic fumes. The AHI battery uses a saltwater electrolyte, carbon composite anode, manganese oxide cathode, and synthetic cotton separator.

Nidhi Goyal

Nidhi is a gold medalist Post Graduate in Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences.